KIA Tigers Sweep LG Twins to Advance in KBO Postseason
The KIA Tigers secured a 13-1 victory over the LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, completing a three-game sweep in their best-of-five semi-playoff series. The win advances KIA to the playoff round, where they will face the Samsung Lions in a best-of-five series starting October 25 at Samsung’s home stadium in Daegu. Kim Do-young earned the semi-playoff Most Valuable Player award after hitting three home runs and driving in eight runs across the three games.
Grand Slam and Record-Breaking Power Spark the Offense
KIA’s offense generated 16 hits, including four home runs, to break open the game during a seven-run second inning. Batting with the bases loaded in the second frame, Kim hit a 144.4 km/h fastball from reliever John Kennedy 145 meters to the upper left-field seats. The drive tied the postseason record for longest home run, matching a 145-meter shot hit by Tyrone Woods for the Doosan Bears against the Samsung Lions in the 2001 Korean Series. At 23 years and 18 days old, Kim also became the youngest player to hit a postseason grand slam in KBO history, surpassing Kim Dong-ju’s previous mark set in 2001. Na Sung-bum contributed two solo home runs in the second and sixth innings, while Han Jun-su added a solo homer in the seventh.
Pitching Dominance and Early Exits Define the Series
KIA starting pitcher Keisyo Shirakawa limited LG to one run on four hits while striking out nine batters over five innings to earn the victory. The loss marked the second game that LG fell behind early due to a short outing from its starting pitcher. Carlos Carrasco allowed five runs, four of them earned, in just one and one-third innings. The defeat eliminated the defending champions from the postseason and marked the final game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium ahead of its scheduled demolition to make way for a new 30,000-seat dome stadium expected by 2032.
KIA Faces Samsung After Sweeping LG
KIA enters the next round having previously lost all four of its prior semi-playoff appearances during the Haitai era before securing this sweep. The upcoming playoff series against Samsung begins October 25 in Daegu, with the winner advancing to the Korean Series. Meanwhile, LG concludes a 45-year history at Jamsil Baseball Stadium earlier than anticipated following consecutive early deficits in the opening rounds.
Who Won the Semi-Playoff MVP?
Who won the KBO semi-playoff MVP award?
Kim Do-young won the semi-playoff MVP after recording nine at-bats, three hits, three home runs, eight RBIs, and four runs scored across the three-game series against the LG Twins.
When and where does the playoff series between KIA and Samsung begin?
The best-of-five playoff series opens on October 25 at Samsung’s home stadium in Daegu, with the winner advancing to the Korean Series.
What historic record did Kim Do-young tie during the third game?
Kim tied the KBO postseason record for the longest home run with his 145-meter grand slam, matching the distance achieved by Doosan Bears player Tyrone Woods in October 2001.
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